Democrat National Committee Chair (and former Virginia Governor) Tim Kaine, Congressman Jim Moron and Fairfax County Supervisors Penelope Gross and Sharon Bullova did not attend the fundraiser, even though they were listed on the mosque's promotional flyer for the event.

No word came from VA-11 Rep. "Jihad" Gerry Connolly, if he was going to skip the fundraiser or still attend as planned.

Members of citizens groups, including the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force, protested across the street from the Fairview Park Marriott earlier this evening, as the Dar al-Hijrah center has been linked to the 9/11 terror attack, as well as the Ft. Hood shooter. WorldNetDaily reported:

according to the book, "Muslim Mafia," Connolly and Moran have received thousands of dollars in donations from several Virginia Islamists under federal investigation for financing terrorism. In addition, the book reveals, Connolly received an $18,758 windfall from the Saudi government's U.S. public relations firm while fighting to keep open a Saudi-owned madrassa in Northern Virginia also tied to terrorism (M.I.M. note: Islamic Saudi Academy, see more here).

Dar Al-Hijrah hosted at least two of the 9/11 terrorists who attacked the Pentagon, as well as the Fort Hood terrorist and an al-Qaida sleeper agent convicted of plotting to assassinate President Bush. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali graduated valedictorian from the Saudi madrassa – Islamic Saudi Academy – in Alexandria, Va.

...Federal investigators say Dar al-Hijrah is a breeding ground for known terrorists, including:

Fugitive Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook, a former mosque leader.

Top al-Qaida fundraiser Abdurahman Alamoudi, now serving 23 years in federal prison for terrorism.

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, the would-be al-Qaida presidential assassin.

Mohammed al-Hanooti, a current mosque leader and unindicted co-conspirator in both the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and recent Holy Land Foundation terror finance case.

Ismail Elbarasse, a founding mosque member and leader who was arrested for allegedly casing the Chesapeake Bay bridge for attack.

Hani Hanjour, 9/11 hijacker and Saudi national who flew the jumbo jet into the Pentagon.

Nawaf al-Hazmi, 9/11 hijacker and Saudi national who joined Hanjour on the Pentagon flight and acted as second in command of the entire al-Qaida operation behind hijacking ringleader Mohamed Atta.

The mosque, in fact, helped Hanjour and al-Hazmi obtain housing in the area.

After 9/11, investigators found the phone number for Dar al-Hijrah in the Hamburg, Germany, apartment of one of the planners of the 9/11 attacks – Ramzi Binalshibh, a Gitmo detainee.

This is what it looked like inside the hotel:This room in the lobby was set aside as a prayer room, while when you went through the hallway, you entered the registration area for the fundraiser. A sign further up asked for no cameras, etc from that point.I did go to the side of the hotel and, with my handheld camera, took this shot of part of the program through the glass.